Happiness is a story, a fantastic story that begins at birth and ends at death. It may be a tale of lost love, with the protagonist searching for what was once his. It may be a coming-of-age story, where the main character discovers what was inside all along. It may be a fantasy, a comedy, but most importantly, happiness is whatever the writer makes it. Like any story, happiness draws on from the author’s own ideals and values. What would The Lord of the Flies be without Golding’s view of human nature, or Nineteen Eighty-Four without Orwell’s wariness of nationalism?
Claim:
In order to have happiness, one needs to apply their beliefs. Because of this, it is clear that there is no happiness if the things we believe in are different than the …show more content…
In turn, this dissonance paves the path for unhappiness. In The Stranger, Meursault’s sole belief is that “nothing, nothing mattered” and applies this belief to his actions by ignoring social customs, such as smoking next to his mother’s coffin and spurning the concept of love (Camus 121). Meursault notes that, in this era of his life, “[he’d] found the simplest and most lasting joys” (Camus 104). From this, it is easy to see the true happiness that Meursault experiences when he was able to do what he believes in, even when his belief is the lack of belief. On the other hand, the restrictions society places on this belief become apparent when Meursault is sentenced to death because “[he] had no place in a society whose most fundamental rules [he] ignored” (Camus 102). As he is shunted through the legal system, prison, and finally the guillotine, society’s limitations prevent Meursault from acting according to his values. He can no longer ignore customs as he did before. Instead, he must confront the rigid social system that his beliefs reject; therefore, he experiences only suffering and despair as he seeks desperately for a way of “escaping the relentless machinery” (Camus 107). In addition, Meursault notes that “apart from these annoyances,” referring to the fact that his “thoughts were still those of a free man,” he “wasn’t too unhappy” (Camus …show more content…
In The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s younger sister, Grete, voices the family’s opinion of Gregor when she confides to her parents, “we must try to get rid of it. It’s doing both of you in; I can see it coming” (Kafka 62). Regardless of her harsh words, Grete - and by extension, the Samsa family - demonstrates a clear belief in preservation of the family and taking care of her loved ones. They all accept that, in order for the family to survive, Gregor must disappear. However, despite the fact that “one could easily transport [Gregor] in a suitable box with a few air holes,” the Samsas refuse to relocate him until his death (Kafka 53). Since it is clear that there are no physical barriers, the only possible obstacle that the Samsas face is an emotional one: their absolute terror of Gregor. In Gregor’s own words, “the parents couldn’t bring themselves to come in to him,” and his sister was almost equally terrified (Kafka 40). As a result, “they could not leave this apartment, which was too large for their current income, because relocating Gregor was inconceivable” (Kafka 53). Fear is the inhibitor that prevents them from following through on their plans to dispose of Gregor. As a result, the family is unable to act on their belief of familial unity and are forced to suffer through great
Claim:
In order to have happiness, one needs to apply their beliefs. Because of this, it is clear that there is no happiness if the things we believe in are different than the …show more content…
In turn, this dissonance paves the path for unhappiness. In The Stranger, Meursault’s sole belief is that “nothing, nothing mattered” and applies this belief to his actions by ignoring social customs, such as smoking next to his mother’s coffin and spurning the concept of love (Camus 121). Meursault notes that, in this era of his life, “[he’d] found the simplest and most lasting joys” (Camus 104). From this, it is easy to see the true happiness that Meursault experiences when he was able to do what he believes in, even when his belief is the lack of belief. On the other hand, the restrictions society places on this belief become apparent when Meursault is sentenced to death because “[he] had no place in a society whose most fundamental rules [he] ignored” (Camus 102). As he is shunted through the legal system, prison, and finally the guillotine, society’s limitations prevent Meursault from acting according to his values. He can no longer ignore customs as he did before. Instead, he must confront the rigid social system that his beliefs reject; therefore, he experiences only suffering and despair as he seeks desperately for a way of “escaping the relentless machinery” (Camus 107). In addition, Meursault notes that “apart from these annoyances,” referring to the fact that his “thoughts were still those of a free man,” he “wasn’t too unhappy” (Camus …show more content…
In The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s younger sister, Grete, voices the family’s opinion of Gregor when she confides to her parents, “we must try to get rid of it. It’s doing both of you in; I can see it coming” (Kafka 62). Regardless of her harsh words, Grete - and by extension, the Samsa family - demonstrates a clear belief in preservation of the family and taking care of her loved ones. They all accept that, in order for the family to survive, Gregor must disappear. However, despite the fact that “one could easily transport [Gregor] in a suitable box with a few air holes,” the Samsas refuse to relocate him until his death (Kafka 53). Since it is clear that there are no physical barriers, the only possible obstacle that the Samsas face is an emotional one: their absolute terror of Gregor. In Gregor’s own words, “the parents couldn’t bring themselves to come in to him,” and his sister was almost equally terrified (Kafka 40). As a result, “they could not leave this apartment, which was too large for their current income, because relocating Gregor was inconceivable” (Kafka 53). Fear is the inhibitor that prevents them from following through on their plans to dispose of Gregor. As a result, the family is unable to act on their belief of familial unity and are forced to suffer through great